ROCK HILL, S.C. – Playing its final non-conference match of the 2011 season, the USC Upstate men's tennis team dropped a 5-2 decision at Winthrop on Sunday afternoon.

Upstate put up valiant efforts in doubles play, but Winthrop claimed all three matches to earn the doubles point.

"Winthrop is a solid program and they are consistently at the top of the Big South Conference," said head coach Oliver Trittenwein.  "Today was the first time I have coached against Winthrop and it is no surprise that they are so successful because they are a very tough and talented team.  Today was also an opportunity for us to play without the pressure of league play impacting us as we re-enter conference play next weekend at Mercer and Kennesaw State."

Ramiro Blanco claimed a three-set win at singles number two as he downed Winthrop's Dejon Bivens.  Blanco, who won set number one by a score of 7-6, dropped the second set 1-6 before rallying for the win by claiming the third set.

At singles number three, Matias Di Pasquale dropped the first set before rallying to claim sets number two and three en route to the victory over Liran Levy.

"In doubles play, I felt that we played the best we have all season we gave everything we had as did Winthrop," added Trittenwein.  "Despite losing the doubles point, I was very proud of our effort today.  Ramiro did a good job to rally from a tough loss in the second set.  Normally the player who gets off to the faster start in the final set will win and Ramiro was able to get off to solid start in the final set.  Matias also played well today and picked up his fifth win of the season when dropping the first set."

Tennis Match Results

USC Upstate vs Winthrop

Mar 20, 2011 at Rock Hill, S.C.

(Memorial Courts)

Winthrop 5, USC Upstate 2

Singles competition

1. BELOV, Sergey (WU) def. Edgar Rodriguez (UPSTM) 6-2, 6-4

2. Ramiro Blanco (UPSTM) def. BIVENS, Dejon (WU) 7-6, 1-6, 1-0

3. Matias Di Pasquale (UPSTM) def. LEVY, Liran (WU) 4-6, 6-4, 1-0

4. KUBI, Guy (WU) def. Gonzalo Blanco (UPSTM) 6-4, 6-2

5. RUPPIN, Nadav (WU) def. Marco Linconir (UPSTM) 6-1, 6-4

6. HIROKAWA, Yuta (WU) def. Gianluca Paino (UPSTM) 6-4, 6-3

Doubles competition

1. BELOV, Sergey/LEVY, Liran (WU) def. Ramiro Blanco/Matias Di Pasquale (UPSTM) 8-4

2. RUPPIN, Nadav/KUBI, Guy (WU) def. Edgar Rodriguez/Gonzalo Blanco (UPSTM) 8-4

3. BIVENS, Dejon/HIROKAWA, Yuta (WU) def. Marco Linconir/Gianluca Paino (UPSTM) 8-6

Match Notes:

USC Upstate 7-11

Winthrop 10-5